Sex Pistols' John Lydon accused of sexism after TV rant

The Public Image Ltd frontman hits out against Australian TV presenter

Photo: Ed Miles/NME

John Lydon has been accused of sexism after hitting out at a presenter during an interview on Australian TV – scroll down to watch it.

Lydon was in the middle of speaking when presenter Carrie Bickmore on Channel Ten's The Project programme interrupted him to ask his views on late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

"Hey mrs, shut up!" he said. "Whoever you are shut up, shut up, shut up. Now listen, when a man is talking do not interrupt … stop it you sound like one of them dreadful loud birds I don’t like … You’ve gotta learn what manners and respect is; I’m Johnny 'fucking' Rotten and I’m telling you a truth," Faster Louder reports.

In a statement issued to NME, Lydon denied that the comments were sexist. "I am the enemies of governments and institutions, certainly not women. I've been married to one for 30 years. We love each other," he said.

Last summer, Lydon made another memorable TV appearance on BBC's Question Time political debate programme, where he called for legislation to legalise drugs. "I don't see why these things (drugs) should be illegal if the correct information is out there," he said. "Here's the problem – you can kill yourself with two tablespoons of table salt. Are you now going to ban table salt? Let us as human beings determine our own journey in life."